Ashtray



April 1962 I s. T. DUNN 3,027,899

ASHTRAY Filed NOV. 19, 1958 Fig./

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3,d27,899 Patented Apr. 3, 1962 hce 3,027,899 ASHTRAY Stephen T. Dunn,3034 Balboa St., San Francisco, Calif. Filed Nov. 19, 1958, Ser. No.774,958 2 Claims. ((31. ISL-24h) The present invention relates to animproved smokers ashtray or receiver for ashes, cigar and cigarettebutts, burnt matches and the like and has reference, more specifically,to a dish-like ashtray the central portion of which is provided withnovel safety features.

The improved ashtray features a structurally distinct stand located atthe central portion of the ashtray, said stand being characterized by areadily applicable and removable rest for a lighted cigarette or cigarwhich may be temporarily placed thereon when the smoker finds itnecessary to lay the same aside while his hands are being used to attendto and take care of telephone calls, meeting or greeting a visitor,while answering a doorbell, or while dishes are being washed in thekitchen sink.

In carrying out a preferred embodiment of the invention a constructionis provided which becomes a valuable timesaver since it enables thesmoker to safely and temporarily place a burning cigarette on the restknowing that the construction is so reliable and safe that he does nothave to keep an eye on the cigarette as it is being consumed nor botherhaving to pick it up for safety within a limited time, as is often thesituation.

The invention is also advantageous in that the rest on the stand iseffectually centered and the tray or dish is sufficiently large thateven if the burning cigarette should topple or tumble from the rest itwill be safely trapped in the receptacle portion of the tray whereby tothus provide a construction which promotes carefree use while at alltimes safe-guarding the users desk, important papers, tablecloths,furniture and the like.

In addition it is an object of the invention to support burningcigarettes so that uninterrupted air circulation and ventilation isassured, so that fire hazards are reduced to an absolute minimum, sothat increased pleasure is accorded smokers and users and so that,despite the presence of the added facilities, the tray and itscomponents may be readily and effectually Washed and cleaned.

Numerous other objects, features and advantages will become more readilyapparent from the following description and the accompanying drawing:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a smokers ashtray and cigarette constructed inaccordance with the principles of the present invention, showing thecigarette in phantom lines.

FIG. 2 is a section taken on the plane of the line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a detail fragmentary section taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1,the cigarette being omitted.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of fragmentary type showing a slightmodification; and

FIG. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4 showing the cigarette inphantom lines.

Referring now to the drawing the tray, receiver, plate or equivalentreceptacle is denoted generally by the nu meral 8 and has a flat bottom10 and an upstanding suitably shaped rim or wall 12. The rest forcigars, cigarettes 14, is shown in the form of a centrally locatedgenerally rectangular block or mound 16. Rising from the center of thetop portion of the mound is an extension 18 which provides a riser ormount for a readily attachable and detachable grid-like rest 20. Thispart comprises a frame 22 which removably embraces the flanges of themount 18. A plurality of spaced parallel transversely extending wires orrods 24 are provided on the frame and these provide the openwork restfor the cigarette. The end portions of the wires are removably seated inkeeper notches 26 provided therefor in the upper edges of the flanges 18of the mound 16. In addition the stand is formed to provide a free aircirculating trough or channel having a rounded or convex portion 28 atthe center of the bottom providing deflecting surfaces or chutes 30which direct falling ashes into the tray. Thus the frame embraces theflanges 18 and rests on the flat elevating surfaces of mound 16. Theframed grid with its notched ends provides an effective ventilating typerest for lighted cigarettes and cigars and, since it is removable alsomakes it practical for one to wash and clean the surfaces thereof andalso the readily accessible surfaces of the cornpanion supporting andretaining parts. The mound 16 also serves as a satisfactory support forelevated outstanding rings or the like 32 having wire bottom portions 34and constituting extinguishers or snuifers for cigarettes. All of thesefacilities are at the center and surrounded by the receptacle portion 36which thus provides a convenient and safe trap.

The modified extinguisher seen in FIG. 4 takes the form of a ring 33attached by a shank 40 and is provided on its inner periphery withcircumferentially spaced radial V-shaped projections 42. The tipportions 44 are sufficiently spaced apart that snufiing andextinguishing of cigarette butts is assured.

Referring again to the notches 26, it will be seen that said notchesserve to define spaced teeth 25. Stated otherwise, the teeth havenotches existing therebetween, there being two rows of teeth, one row tothe left and the other to the right of the center of the cigarette rest(FIGS. 1 and 2) and the upper ends of the teeth in each row being flushwith each other and also flush with the upper edges of the longitudinalside members of the frame 22.

With further reference to the frame 22 it will be noted that the uppercentral portions of the transverse or end members of the frame havesegmental notches 23 therein which cooperate in promoting a goodcirculation of air at adjacent ends of the rest.

It will be evident that the receptacle portion 36 should be ofsufficient area and depth that it provides an effective receiver notonly for the ashes and butts that necessarily accumulate during thecourse of use but provides a trap for cigarettes that might besubstantially if not wholly consumed on the grid or grate and which inthe form of ashes will be cammed or shunted over the crest 28 and downthe deflecting surfaces or chutes 30 for collection and ultimatedumping. The size or diameter of the receptacle portion is such as toextend well beyond the snuffers or extinguishers 32.

Minor changes in shape, size, materials and rearrangement of componentsand parts may be resorted to in actual practice without departing fromthe spirit of the invention or the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A portable ashtray comprising a tray having a receptacle portionincluding a horizontal bottom, a stand embodying a mound fixed in thecentral portion of said bottom and rising vertically therefrom, theupper portion of said mound being provided with an open-ended aircirculating channel, said channel having a central convex crest anddownwardly directed surfaces cooperating therewith and providing ash andrefuse chutes, said chutes discharging into said receptacle portion, theupper portion of said mound having upstanding extension means, aresilient frame embracing the extension means, said extension meansconstituting a retainer for the frame, said frame having opposed sidemembers and opposed end members and a plurality of spaced coplanar wiressecured at ends thereof to opposed side members of said frame and which,in conjunction with the frame, provide a gridlike rest for lightedcigarettes and cigars, said wires overlying said channel in verticallyspaced relation whereby to provide for free circulatory flow ofventilating air and aoargsoe to permit ashes and refuse to drop intosaid channel and shunted and discharged into said receptacle portion,said channel being formed in part in the extension, said extensionembodying a pair of spaced opposed flanges having a plurality of notchesin the upper edge portions, said notches defining keeper seats forremovable reception of cooperating end portions of the Wires, and alsodefining a plurality of spaced teeth, said flanges being disposedinwardly and spaced from adjacent vertical surfaces of the body portionof the mound, the horizontal top portion of said mound being flat anddefining seating and supporting ledges for the portions of the frameresting thereon, said teeth being of equal height and being locatedWithin the confines of the surrounding upper edge portions of the sidemembers of said frame, said upper edge portions and upper ends of saidteeth terminating in a common plane, said wires being disposed in aplane below the upper ends of said teeth, the upper portions of the endmembers of said frame having segmental notches therein, the majorportions of said notches being disposed in a plane below the plane ofsaid Wires to promote free circulation of air from said channel throughsaid wires.

2. An ashtray comprising a tray having a receptacle portion and abottom, a centrally disposed upstanding block-like member situated insaid receptacle portion and fixedly joined to said bottom and having anopen-ended channel for circulatory flow of air, a readily attachable andremovable cigarette rest, said rest embodying a plurality of spacedwires secured to a frame, and said frame being removably seated atopsaid block-like member, said wires being in a plane directly above thebottom of the channel to ventilate the area between the surfaces of thechannel and beneath the cigarette so that the ignited cigarette wiil, ifleft alone, gradually virtually burn up, extinguish itself, and theashes and butt will drop and gravitate into the channel and will bedeflected from the channel into the receptacle portion, said frameembodying longitudinal side members and transverse end members, theupper portions of said end members having air circulating notchestherein, said wi'res being coplanar with each other with the ends of thewires secured to said side members in a plane below the upper edges ofthe side members, a pair of spaced parallel opposed flanges atop saidblock-like member, frame surrounding said flanges and being seated atopthe block-like member and being held in operating position by saidflanges, said flanges having a plurality of notches in the upper edgeportions thereof, said notches defining keeper seats for removablereception of cooperating end portions of the Wires and also defining aplurality of spaced teeth, said flanges being disposed inwardly of andspaced from adjacent vertical surfaces of the body portion of theblocklike member and top portions of said block-like member functioningto seat lower edge portions of the side members of said frame, the teethof the respective flanges projecting to a plane above the plane of saidWires and Serving to guard against displacement of a cigarette restingatop the Wires.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,981,981 Arthuber Nov. 27, 1934 2,029,139 Szabo Jan. 28, 1936 2,083,392Nereim June 8, 1937 2,332,929 Rees Oct. 26, 1943 2,453,026 Maney Nov. 2,1948 2,590,425 Lindstrom Mar. 25, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 592,473 GreatBritain Sept. 18, 1947

